SMU loses out on another....

[Johnny Rock]

I just read in the DMN that SMU recruit, Mesquite safety Randy Duncan, chose Tulsa. A JC QB we wanted chose Baylor earlier this week. Furthermore, Vincent Chase, who could be our highest rated recruit, announced that he is taking visits to several BCS schools. Do you guys see a trend here? This year's recruiting class is not going well for SMU. I stand to be corrected if I am not seeing this correct. Any thoughts?

[Corso]

Not so fast, my friend!

Losing out on Randy Duncan and Dane King is too bad, but there are others out there.

I wouldn't lose a lot of sleep over Vincent Chase just yet. We're talking about a high school senior who's being courted by some big-name teams -- I would think we'd all be tempted to go visit. However ....

- He's a local guy.
- His high school coach is Coach Bennett's brother.
- His brother Bobby is coming to SMU.
He's extremely close with SMU freshmen Zach Hall and Lucky DeLay, and 2005 commit Chris Hall.

He can go visit the other schools. They'll try to change his mind. But he knows that at those schools, there's a chance he might sit for two or three years, because they have more depth. When he considers SMU, he'll know he has a shot to play early -- maybe even as a true freshman -- and play in front of family and friends, and that he'll get a better education than he will at the other three schools. Which school of the four would give him the best contacts in DFW, his hometown? Right: SMU.

This is a no-brainer choice for Vincent to stay true to his commitment, and by all accounts, he's a very bright, rational young man. Those other schools have their assets, but none match up to what SMU can offer him. He'll realize that and he'll be a Mustang.

I hope he has a nice visit to the other schools. Consider it three weekends of vacation. Then come back home to SMU.

[Charleston Pony]

could it be that Duncan looked at Sturdivant and King looked at Phillips and each thought to himself "I'm not going to SMU just to sit behind that guy" ?

[Pony4Life]

Could be. King, especially, might have looked with some hesitation at Phillips, who could be a starter for three more years.

How about the picture of two SMU commits in the paper today? Vincent Chase and Chris Hall -- impressive (big) guys! Nice to have some pub that features the great quality athletes who are headed our way!